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🎣2025 Atlantic Herring Fishery Possession Limit Adjustment Regulation

NMFS is implementing a 2,000-lb (907.2-kg) possession limit for Atlantic herring for Management Area 3. This is required because NMFS projects that herring catch from Area 3 will reach 98 percent of the Area's sub-annual catch limit (ACL) before the end of the fishing year. This action is intended to prevent overharvest of herring in Area 3, which would result in additional catch limit reductions in a subsequent year.

🎣Temporary Fishing Closure for Pacific Cod in Gulf of Alaska

NMFS is prohibiting directed fishing for the Pacific cod sideboard limit by non-exempt American Fisheries Act (AFA) catcher vessels in the Western Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary to prevent exceeding the annual 2025 Pacific cod sideboard limit established for non-exempt AFA catcher vessels in the Western Regulatory Area of the GOA.

🐟North Pacific Fishery Management Council Virtual Meeting Notice

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) Scallop Plan Team will meet on March 4, 2025.

🐟Western Pacific Fishery Council Meetings Impacting Fishing Regulations

The Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) will hold its Mariana Archipelago Fishery Ecosystem Plan (FEP) Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Advisory Panel (AP), CNMI Regional Ecosystem Advisory Committee (REAC), Fishing Industry Advisory Committee (FIAC), Mariana Archipelago FEP Guam AP, and the Guam REAC to discuss and make recommendations on fishery management issues in the Western Pacific Region.

🎣Pacific Fishery Management Council Public Meeting Announcement

The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Pacific Council) will hold an online meeting of its Ad Hoc Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Fisheries Innovation Workgroup (FIW) to discuss procedures to facilitate the development of new HMS gears and achieve the goals of the HMS Roadmap. This meeting is open to the public.

🐟Notice of Public Meeting by Pacific Fishery Management Council

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) Habitat Committee (HC) will hold an online public meeting.

🎣Pacific Fishery Management Council

The Pacific Fishery Management Council's (Pacific Council) will convene an online meeting of its Ad Hoc Ecosystem Workgroup (EWG), which is open to the public.

🐟U.S. Caribbean Commercial Fishermen Census Data Collection Notice

🌊New Florida Keys Sanctuary Regulations

As part of its Restoration Blueprint initiative, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is issuing final regulations for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS or sanctuary) that will expand the boundary of the sanctuary, update sanctuary-wide regulations, update the individual marine zones and their associated regulations, and revise the sanctuary's terms of designation. NOAA is also finalizing a revised management plan and final environmental impact statement (EIS) as part of this action. The final rule describes how NOAA will work to improve the condition of resources in FKNMS through a series of regulatory measures designed to reduce threats and, where appropriate, restore coral reefs, seagrasses, and other important habitats. The intended effect of this final rule is to manage and protect the living and heritage resources of FKNMS for the benefit of the public.

🌊Business Implications of Papahānaumokuākea National Marine Sanctuary Regulations

NOAA is designating Papah[amacr]naumoku[amacr]kea National Marine Sanctuary (sanctuary) to protect nationally significant biological, cultural, and historical resources and to manage this special place as part of the National Marine Sanctuary System. The sanctuary consists of an area of approximately 582,570 square statute miles (439,910 square nautical miles) of Pacific Ocean waters surrounding the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and the submerged lands thereunder. NOAA is establishing the terms of designation for the sanctuary and the regulations to implement the national marine sanctuary designation. NOAA has also published a final environmental impact statement (final EIS) in coordination with the State of Hawai[revaps]i, final management plan, and Record of Decision.